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Literature: Banned Books Week

ALA reports highest number of challenged book titles ever documented in 2023.
Number of unique titles challenged: 1,858 in 2021; 2,571 in 2022; 4,240 in 2024.
1,247 attempts to ban or restrict library materials and services in 2023.
In 2023, the number of titles targeted for censorship at public libraries increased by 92% over the previous year, while school libraries saw an 11% increase.
Groups and individuals demanding the censorship of multiple titles, often dozens or hundreds at a time, drove the 2023 surge.
47% of of titles targeted for censorship in 2023 represent the voices and lived experiences of LGBTOIA+ and BIPOC individuals.
More than 100 titles were challenged in 17 states, including Virginia.

About

Banned Books Week

An annual event celebrating the freedom to read. Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores and libraries. Typically held during the last week of September, it highlights the value of free and open access to information.

Challenge

An attempt to remove or restrict materials based upon the objections of a person or group. Challenges are more than a person expressing a point of view; they are an attempt to remove material from a curriculum or a library, thus restricting access to these materials.

Banning

The removal of challenged materials.

Source: Banned Books Week. Learn more: Book Ban Data.

Banned Books in the News

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